Quick stop encasement for malfunctioning fire sprinkler head

Abstract

A removable casing for a fire sprinkler head encases the sprinkler head to stop unwanted water spray. The casing has hinged shells that latch closed to form a watertight interior space. One or both of the shells have gaskets that contact the opposite shell to seal off the interior space. The hinges and latches may be adjustable to make the casing easier to fit over the sprinkler head and to fasten tightly. Each shell may have one or more necks configured to fit tightly around a pipe when the casing is closed. A drain having a valve may be disposed through one or both of the shells to prevent initial pressure buildup and to allow the removal of accumulated water from inside the casing. The casing fills with water until the flow out of the sprinkler head stops, allowing the rest of the fire sprinkler system to remain active.

I claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for encasing a fire sprinkler head attached to a pipe, such that the encasing stops the flow of water out of the fire sprinkler head, the apparatus comprising:
 a. a first shell; 
 b. a second shell attached to the first shell such that the first and second shells may be closed together to encase the fire sprinkler head; and 
 c. a first gasket attached to the first shell so that the first gasket cooperates with the second shell to form a watertight seal around the fire sprinkler head when the first and second shells are closed together; 
 d. a drain disposed through the first shell or second shell; and 
 e. a valved nozzle in fluid communication with the drain. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the watertight seal is configured to withstand water pressure within a fire sprinkler system to which the fire sprinkler head belongs. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a second gasket attached to the second shell so that the first gasket contacts the second gasket to form the watertight seal. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein:
 a. the first shell comprises a first neck portion having a neck gasket; 
 b. the second shell comprises a first neck portion having a neck gasket; and 
 c. the neck gaskets of the first and second shells cooperate to form a watertight seal around the pipe. 
 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising one or more hinges attached to the first and second shells such that the first and second shells close together in a clamshell fashion. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising one or more latches configured to secure the first and second shells in a closed position in which the watertight seal is formed. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the latches are adjustable and may be tightened to compress the first gasket to form the watertight seal. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus for encasing a fire sprinkler head attached to a pipe, such that the encasing stops the flow of water out of the fire sprinkler head, the apparatus comprising:
 a. a first shell comprising a first neck portion at an end of the first shell; 
 b. a second shell comprising a first neck portion at an end of the second shell, the second shell being configured to close against the first shell to define an interior space large enough to encase the fire sprinkler head, the first neck portions of each shell cooperating to form a first neck around the pipe when the first and second shells are closed together; 
 c. one or more hinges attached to the first and second shells such that the first and second shells close together in a clamshell fashion; 
 d. a first gasket disposed on the first shell; 
 e. a second gasket disposed on the second shell such that the second gasket contacts the first gasket when the first and second shells are closed together; 
 f. a first neck gasket disposed within the first neck portion of the first shell such that the first neck gasket contacts the pipe when the first and second shells are closed together; 
 g. a second neck gasket disposed within the first neck portion of the second shell such that the second neck gasket contacts the pipe when the first and second shells are closed together; and 
 h. one or more latches configured to secure the first and second shells in a closed position in which the first gasket, second gasket, first neck gasket, and second neck gasket cooperate to form a substantially watertight seal around the fire sprinkler head and pipe when the first and second shells are closed together and the latches are engaged; 
 i. a drain disposed through the first shell; 
 j. a valved nozzle attached to the first shell in fluid communication with the drain; and 
 k. a lever attached to the nozzle for opening and closing the nozzle. 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein each hinge comprises:
 a. a front hinge portion attached to the first shell; 
 b. a rear hinge portion attached to the second shell; and 
 c. a hinging mechanism comprising:
 i. an anchor attached to the rear hinge portion, the anchor having a channel passing from its proximal end to its distal end; 
 ii. a bolt having a threaded portion at its distal end and a head at its proximal end, the head being attached to the front hinge portion, and the bolt passing through the channel of the anchor; and 
 iii. a wingnut configured to threadedly mate with the bolt at the distal end of the bolt. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising one or more guides disposed on an inner surface of the first shell and configured to align the first and second shells when closing the first and second shells together. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the first shell further comprises a branch being sized to receive the sprinkler head. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein:
 a. the first shell further comprises a second neck portion at an end of the first shell opposite the end comprising the first neck portion; 
 b. the second shell further comprises a second neck portion at an end of the second shell opposite the end comprising the first neck portion, the second neck portions of each shell cooperating to form a second neck around the pipe when the first and second shells are closed together; and 
 c. the apparatus further comprises:
 i. a third neck gasket disposed within the second neck portion of the first shell such that the third neck gasket contacts the pipe when the first and second shells are closed together; and 
 ii. a fourth neck gasket disposed within the second neck portion of the second shell such that the fourth neck gasket contacts the pipe when the first and second shells are closed together, the third and fourth neck gaskets cooperating with the first gasket, second gasket, first neck gasket, and second neck gasket to form the seal. 
 
 
     
     
       13. An apparatus for encasing a fire sprinkler head attached to a pipe, such that the encasing stops the flow of water out of the fire sprinkler head, the apparatus comprising:
 a. a first shell comprising a first neck portion at the proximal end of the first shell; 
 b. a second shell comprising a first neck portion at the proximal end of the second shell, the second shell being configured to close against the first shell to define an interior space large enough to encase the fire sprinkler head, the first neck portions of each shell cooperating to form a first neck around the pipe when the first and second shells are closed together; 
 c. a plurality of hinges configured to removably attach the first shell to the second shell so that the shells close together in a clamshell fashion, each hinge comprising:
 i. a front hinge portion attached to the first shell; 
 ii. a rear hinge portion attached to the second shell; and 
 iii. a hinging mechanism comprising:
 1. an anchor attached to the rear hinge portion, the anchor having a channel passing from its proximal end to its distal end; 
 2. a bolt having a threaded portion at its distal end and a head at its proximal end, the head being attached to the front hinge portion, and the bolt passing through the channel of the anchor; and 
 3. a wingnut configured to threadedly mate with the bolt at the distal end of the bolt; 
 
 
 d. a first gasket disposed on the first shell; 
 e. a second gasket disposed on the second shell such that the second gasket contacts the first gasket when the first and second shells are closed together; 
 f. a first neck gasket disposed within the first neck portion of the first shell such that the first neck gasket contacts the pipe when the first and second shells are closed together; 
 g. a second neck gasket disposed within the first neck portion of the second shell such that the second neck gasket contacts the pipe when the first and second shells are closed together; 
 h. a plurality of latches configured to secure the first and second shells in a closed position when the first and second shells are closed together and the latches are engaged, each latch comprising:
 i. a hook attached to the first shell, the hook comprising a channel; 
 ii. a bracket attached to the second shell; and 
 iii. a latching mechanism comprising:
 1. an anchor attached to the bracket, the anchor having a channel passing from its proximal end to its distal end; 
 2. a bolt having a threaded portion at its distal end and a head at its proximal end, the head being configured to fit into the hook, and the bolt passing through the channel of the anchor and fitting into the channel of the hook when the first and second shells are in the closed position; and 
 3. a wingnut configured to threadedly mate with the bolt at the distal end of the bolt; 
 
 
 i. a drain disposed through the first shell; 
 j. a valved nozzle attached to the first shell in fluid communication with the drain; 
 k. a lever attached to the nozzle for opening and closing the nozzle; and 
 l. one or more guides disposed on an inner surface of the first shell and configured to align the first and second shells when closing the first and second shells together; 
 the first and second shells being drawn tightly together when in the closed position by tightening one or more of the wingnuts of the hinges and wingnuts of the latches, such that the first gasket, second gasket, first neck gasket, and second neck gasket cooperate to form a substantially watertight seal around the fire sprinkler head and pipe. 
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the first shell further comprises a branch being sized to receive the sprinkler head. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein:
 a. the first shell further comprises a second neck portion at the distal end of the first shell; 
 b. the second shell further comprises a second neck portion at the distal end of the second shell, the second neck portions of each shell cooperating to form a second neck around the pipe when the first and second shells are closed together; and 
 c. the apparatus further comprises:
 i. a third neck gasket disposed within the second neck portion of the first shell such that the third neck gasket contacts the pipe when the first and second shells are closed together; and 
 ii. a fourth neck gasket disposed within the second neck portion of the second shell such that the fourth neck gasket contacts the pipe when the first and second shells are closed together, the third and fourth neck gaskets cooperating with the first gasket, second gasket, first neck gasket, and second neck gasket to form the seal. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15  further comprising a plug removably inserted within the second neck to seal the second neck.